About Berkeley

Berkeley College has been preparing students for successful careers since 1931. Times have changed, but our “students first” commitment hasn’t. Everything we do is designed to help students achieve professional and personal success. Berkeley College offers career-focused programs, supportive professors with real-world industry knowledge, hands-on learning through our internship program, and a variety of supplemental programs and activities. Graduates receive lifelong career assistance.

Academics

Berkeley offers a range of degree and certificate programs to help prepare students for some of today’s most in-demand careers. Programs are developed with input from industry experts to prepare students for the professional world. Updates give students the current skills that employers require, and programs are added to reflect the professional marketplace. Programs are offered through the Larry L. Luing School of Business, the School of Professional Studies, the School of Health Studies, and the School of Graduate Studies. Undergraduate curricula are supported by the School of Liberal Arts to ensure a well-rounded education.

Admissions

Berkeley College has a rolling admissions process that is fast and easy, and help is available every step of the way. Acceptance decisions are based on more than just past performance in school—we consider potential for success as well. An Admissions advisor will help you choose a program of study, arrange a tour of the Berkeley facilities, and answer all of your questions.

Locations

Berkeley College has locations in New York, New Jersey, and online. While each Berkeley location has the facilities and resources to provide you with an outstanding career-focused education, each has its own “personality.” Whether you choose to study in the city, the suburbs, or online, you’ll have access to everything you’ll need. Many students choose to take classes at more than one location or combine on-site and online classes to complete their degree.

Student and Career Services

Students come first at Berkeley College, and a variety of support is provided. Students may also participate in a range of activities that promote personal growth and development. And, a dedicated team of Career Services specialists works closely with students throughout their time at Berkeley—and beyond. Berkeley graduates receive free lifetime career assistance.

Berkeley Today Stories

Higher Education Opens Door Out of Poverty for Berkeley College Alumnus

April 2014

When Richard Jean-Baptiste spoke about the power of a college education to high school students and their families during a Scholarship reception at Berkeley College in White Plains, he was speaking from personal experience. For Mr. Jean-Baptiste, a college degree provided a way out of poverty.

As a child growing up in New York City, Mr. Jean-Baptiste shared a one-bedroom apartment with extended family members in a high crime neighborhood.

“My mother had undergone several brain surgeries and was raising her family on disability income with the help of my grandmother. We had just enough to eat and it was difficult to do extra things,” Mr. Jean-Baptiste said. “I didn’t want my future to be like this, and I knew at a young age that the key to my success would be a college education.”

As the Berkeley College alumnus congratulated the scholarship recipients, he reflected on how lucky they were to have the support of their families in the pursuit of a college degree. His own experience was very different. During and after his high school years, Mr. Jean-Baptiste had to put his dream of attending college on hold while he worked to help support his family.

“I had no choice – my mother needed my help. I was so frustrated because I couldn’t find a way to go to college while working full-time,” said Mr. Jean-Baptiste, whose long-term goal is to found an organization dedicated to helping people rise above poverty.

Eventually, he did find his way to Berkeley College and enrolled in weekend and evening courses at the Midtown Manhattan location. He was eager to take on a full course load, but listened to the counselors who advised him to slowly ease into the college experience. Mr. Jean-Baptiste graduated from Berkeley College with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration – Management in 2006. He earned a Master’s degree in Public Administration with honors from Long Island University in 2011.

Mr. Jean-Baptiste told the scholarship recipients that a college education allowed him to apply for challenging positions. He has gained valuable work experience in a variety of roles including an intake manager at DB Grant Associates Inc., in New York City, a data coordinator at New York Legal Assistance Group and in his current role as an analyst for the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.

Mr. Jean-Baptiste’s advice to new college students is to seek out mentors who can offer support and encouragement when studying becomes overwhelming. This is especially important, he said, for first-generation students and for those balancing work and college.

“Despite my passion for an education, deep down inside I was still the kid from a poor neighborhood, and part of me felt that I didn’t deserve a college education,” Mr. Jean-Baptiste said of his undergraduate experience. “I didn’t know my true potential until I got to Berkeley College and my advisers and professors told me that I could be anything I wanted to be. They believed in me and that was very motivating.”